Shetland’s Integration Joint Board (IJB) has officially approved the Joint Strategic Plan for Health and Social Care 2025-28. This comprehensive plan outlines the vision for the future delivery of local health and social care services, detailing how resources will be allocated to meet future needs and ensuring services remain safe, effective, sustainable, and of the highest quality.
The plan, presented during the IJB meeting on Wednesday, 20 March, highlights the goals of the Shetland Health and Care Partnership (HSCP). It provides clear information on the intended outcomes and how performance will be measured against both local and national benchmarks.
The 2025-28 plan sets out how the HSCP will:
- provide health and care
- work with the community
- use resources and support staff
- improve access to care
- provide services in the future
- spend and look to make savings
- monitor and measure performance
The plan has been developed in close collaboration with the local Strategic Planning Group, Shetland Islands Council, NHS Shetland, as well as third and voluntary sector providers, and the broader community.
In an effort to ensure that the plan is accessible to all, it has been made available in several formats, including digital documents, printed brochures, and audio recordings of the plan being read aloud. These enhanced formats are part of a broader initiative to improve the accessibility of IJB public documents and were made possible through a successful funding bid from the IJB Reserves to support the development of Easy Read materials.
Natasha Cornick, Chair of Shetland Integration Joint Board, said: “The plan is written in plain language, with an Easy Read version also available. I am particularly proud of this, as it ensures that our information is transparent and accessible to everyone. It is essential that the public can easily understand what we are aiming to achieve, and making our documents accessible is something I am truly passionate about.
“Often, we encounter jargon and complex terms that can make it hard to understand the real intent behind a document. I believe this plan sets a new standard for how we present our publicly accessible materials and would encourage us to use this approach as a template for future communications.
“The plan clearly outlines our goals, the challenges we face—whether they be budgetary, staffing, or the increasing demand for services—and how we intend to achieve our outcomes. The consultation and collaborative efforts involved in developing this plan have been extensive and can be clearly seen in the detailed evidence provided.”
The progress of the Joint Strategic Plan will be reviewed regularly by the IJB Board, ensuring that projects stay on track and outcomes are being achieved.
A selection of hard copies of the Joint Strategic Plan brochure will be available in Lerwick Library or from Grantfield Social Care Offices.
The plan and the Easy Read version are accessible here: www.shetland.gov.uk/social-care-health/hscp-strategic-plan
An Audio copy will also be sent to all Shetland Library Talking Newspaper Customers. This is also available to listen to, online on The Shetland Library Website at the following link: https://www.shetland.gov.uk/libraries/using-library/10
For further assistance or to request a copy of the plan, please contact us at:
Phone: 01595 744308
Email: community.care@shetland.gov.uk
Postal Address: Shetland Health and Social Care Partnership, NHS Montfield HQ, Burgh Road, Lerwick, ZE1 0LA